Night work

We are working on standards and methods to give our paddles some amount of uniformity.
Uniformity is probably the wrong word at this point.
We just want them to look like cousins.
To that end we are cutting parts in series.
For the next 25 paddles, we are using some Santos mahogany for the handles.
The parts are cut in matching sets, taped together until the glue-up.
The same process is followed with the blades.
Because of the width of the blades there is the opportunity to book-match the grain or at least find complimentary stock.

New paddles

We are back in the paddle business this week.  Three blanks were glued up and here are some of the results:

 The paddle bench is a tall saw horse of steel legs and a hardwood top.
It really speeds things up.

Cicadas and boats

Cicadas really like boat building.  Who knew?

Or it could be the dust and vibration.

The spar lathe

Today we took the spar glue-up for a spin on our spar lathe.
To speed up the milling and keep it round we incorporated an old device.
Long ago I picked up a bench mounted, hand powered grinding wheel.
I imagine it is from the thirties.  If you can find one in a junk shop, grab it.  It is compact, well made and cool looking.  When not in use, the lathe parts could fit in a shoe box.
After removing the handle, we turned it around so it acts as a reduction gearing.
I then welded up a couple of chucks.
By adding an adjustable clamp on a variable speed drill, we have a slow turning lathe.  It is perfect for a rough pass with an angle grinder, then progressive passes with an orbital sander.

Here, Frank (aka Fabulon) is working on the glue-up.  The two of us use ten large hose clamps and finish this step in fifteen minutes.

Josh is seen here working on the 40 grit pass with the orbital sander.  In the foreground you can see the gearing.
The far end of the mast is supported by a small work stand you can't even see.
Click on the photo for a larger version.

This is the device. 

A socket that fit perfectly in the hollow of the mast has found a new job.

Spar Jig

This past weekend we built a spar jig to cut bird's mouth cuts.
Our plan for the sailing canoe is to fabricate a mast of about three inch diameter.
To do this we ripped an eight quarter chunk of Cherry on a forty five.  The two halves are screwed together with aluminum stock.  Then a slot for a dado blade was ground in.
Our lovely clear Douglas fir boards are then ripped to 9/16 ths and then run through the jig.
Pictures might be clearer than my description...

Here are enough staves for our mast and maybe a spare boom.